Apron system

ABSTRACT

an apron system for association of potholders to an apron without the use of any type attachment means. The apron includes one or more portions of heat insulation material. The heat insulation material can be attached or integral with fabric of the apron. The heat insulation material can be formed of silicone rubber molded into a decorative shape which is sewn onto the apron. One or more potholders can be permanently attached to a rear of the apron body. The insulation material and/or the potholders can be used during contact of an object having a hot temperature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apron system including associated built-in portions of heat insulation material and/or potholders.

Description of Related Art

Potholders are conventionally used to protect a user's hands while contacting objects of hot temperatures. A protective clothing article has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,190 including potholders configured to detachably couple to an outer front surface of an apron using an attachment means.

It is desirable to provide an apron including one or more portions of a heat insulation material and/or one or more potholders permanently attached to an apron body in order to eliminate the use of attachment means and provide lower manufacturing costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apron system for association of potholders to an apron without the use of any type attachment means. The apron system can also include one or more portions of heat insulation material on an outer surface thereof which can be used during contact of an object having a hot temperature. The heat insulation material can be coupled or integral with fabric of the apron. In one embodiment, the heat insulation material is formed of silicone rubber molded into a decorative shape which is sewn onto the apron. Accordingly, the one or more portions of heat insulation material can be used as a built-in potholder.

One or more potholders can also be permanently attached on a rear surface of the apron. The one or more potholders are formed of a pocket for receiving a hand of the user and a layer of insulating material beneath the pocket. The one or more potholders can be permanently attached to the apron for example by sewing or gluing. Preferably, the potholders are positioned at rear corners of the apron. The heat insulation material in combination with the potholders can be used to allow the apron to be used when handling hot or cold objects.

A front pocket can be positioned on a front surface of the apron. The front pocket can be an oversized ergonomic pocket to receive kitchen items to allows users to keep additional kitchen essentials handy.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of front view of an apron system in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of rear view of the apron system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a front view of an apron system including a different decorative shape of a portion of heat insulation material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate apron system 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Apron 12 includes apron body 13. Apron body 13 can include lower side portion 14 and upper side portion 15. Upper side portion 15 can be tapered to top portion 16. Lower side portion 14 extends to bottom portion 18. Top portion 16 can have a shorter length L₁ than length L₂ of bottom portion 18.

Neck strap 20 can slip over the head of a wearer. Neck strap 20 can include adjustment buckle 22 for adjusting the length of neck strap 20. Strap 23 and strap 24 are attached to respective side 25 and side 26 of apron body 13. Strap 23 and strap 24 are positioned along apron body 13 at a predetermined height to allow strap 23 to tie to strap 24 behind the waist of the wearer to secure apron 12 to the wearer.

Front pocket 30 can be formed on front 32 of apron body 13. Front pocket 30 can be coupled around edge 33 to front 32 of apron body 13. For example, front pocket 30 can be formed of fabric and coupled by stitching to apron body 13 also formed of fabric. Example fabrics for front pocket 30 and apron body 13 include materials of cotton, nylon, polyester, blends of one or more of the materials. Front pocket 30 includes opening 34. Front pocket 30 and opening 34 can have a size large enough for receiving cooking utensils and holding the cooking utensils in front pocket 30. Example cooking utensils include spoons, spatulas, measuring spoons, tongs, and whisks.

One or more potholders 40 can be permanently attached to rear 41 of apron body 13 as shown in FIG. 2. Potholder 40 can be coupled around edge 43 to rear 41 of apron body 13. For example, potholder 40 can be formed of fabric and coupled by stitching 39 to apron body 13 also formed of fabric. Potholders 40 are preferably positioned at either corner 44 and 45 of rear 41 of apron body 13. Potholders 40 include pocket 46 positioned between top layer 47 and bottom layer 48. Bottom layer 48 can used as insulation to an object grabbed by potholder 40. For example, bottom layer 48 can be formed of a quilted layer of material. Alternatively, bottom layer 48 can be formed of an insulation material. Opening 49 can receive a user's hand into pocket 46. Example fabrics for potholder 40 and apron body 13 include materials of cotton, nylon, polyester and blends of one or more of the materials.

Apron system 10 can also include one or more portions of heat insulation material 50 permanently attached to apron body 13 as shown in FIG. 1. For example, one or more portions of heat insulation material 50 can be coupled or integral with front 32 of apron body 13. Heat insulation material 50 can be formed of silicone rubber molded into a decorative shape. Apron 12 including one or more portions of heat insulation material 50 can be machine washable. Pocket 30 and apron body 13 can include decorative pattern 72 which can correspond to or enhance the decorative effect of decorative shape 70.

Decorative shape 60 can be a flower. In one embodiment, the decorative shape of heat insulation material 50 with stitching 55 is sewn to apron body 13. Alternatively, insulation material 50 is glued to apron body 13.

Alternatively, decorative shape 70 can be a leaf as shown in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated that other decorative shapes could be used in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apron system comprising: an apron body; and one or more portions of heat insulation material permanently coupled or integral with said apron body.
 2. The apron system of claim 1 further comprising: a neck strap positioned at a top of the apron body, the neck strap adapted for receiving a neck of a user.
 3. The apron system of claim 1 further comprising: a side strap on either side of the apron body, the side straps adapted for securing the apron body around a waist of a user.
 4. The apron system of claim 1 wherein the apron body includes a lower side portion and an upper side portion, the upper side portion is tapered to a top portion of the apron body.
 5. The apron system of claim 1 further comprising: a front pocket on a front of the apron body, the front pocket having an opening, the front pocket and the opening having a predetermined size adapted to receive and hold cooking utensils.
 6. The apron system of claim 1 wherein the apron body is formed of a material selected from a material selected from cotton, nylon, polyester, and blends thereof.
 7. The apron system of claim 1 wherein the heat insulation material is formed of silicone.
 8. The apron system of claim 1 wherein the apron body is formed of cotton and the heat insulation material is formed of silicone.
 9. The apron system of claim 1 wherein the one or more portions of heat insulation material have a decorative shape.
 10. The apron system of claim 9 wherein the decorative shape is a flower.
 11. The apron system of claim 9 wherein the decorative shape is a leaf.
 12. The apron system of claim 1 further comprising: one or more potholders permanently attached a rear of apron body.
 13. The apron system of claim 12 wherein the potholders comprise: a pocket positioned between a top layer and a bottom layer, the bottom layer providing insulation.
 14. The apron system of claim 12 wherein the bottom layer is formed of a quilted material.
 15. A method of making an apron system, the method comprising the steps of: forming an apron body, the apron body comprising a neck strap positioned at a top of the apron body portion and a side strap on either side of the body portion, and adhering one or more portions of heat insulation material to the apron body.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: forming the one or more portions of heat insulation material into a decorative shape before the step of adhering the one more portions of heat insulation material to the apron body.
 17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: forming a front pocket on a front of the apron body, the front pocket having an opening, the front pocket and the opening having a predetermined size adapted to receive and hold cooking utensils.
 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: forming one or more potholders; and attaching the one or more potholders to a rear of the apron body.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein one of the potholders is attached to each corner of the rear of the apron body. 